That one touch side heel was filthy. Sure a highlight reel can be deceiving in regards to the big picture of a performance, but this type of playmaking just keeps happening with him.

2toneTen-Towns

Post #38

Thursday February 1, 2018 10:07pm

Joined Jul 2012
Total Posts: 10,178

Benfica should stop trying to force him as a DM. Just let the guy play his more natural 8 position.

navi8132New York

Post #39

Monday January 7, 2019 11:58pm

Joined Jul 2012
Total Posts: 3,048

Dude is getting a loan to NYCFC. Congrats Keaton! I hope he gets played as a #8.

2toneTen-Towns

Post #40

Tuesday January 8, 2019 12:10am

Joined Jul 2012
Total Posts: 10,178

Good move for him. Good move for NYCFC. Probably have a deal to buy him as well.

hamsamwich

Post #41

Tuesday January 8, 2019 2:08am

Joined Oct 2013
Total Posts: 2,982

He will get a decent amount of exposure. I would not want to see him bought permanently by NYCFC however.

@blaise- now he can't be in your lineups

skanglesDC

Post #42

Tuesday January 8, 2019 5:01am

Joined Jan 2013
Total Posts: 5,401

For the first time in NYCFC's history I will genuinely be interested in watching them play. Only road games though, I can't handle the field at Yankee Stadium.

Lilshmike

Post #43

Tuesday January 8, 2019 4:10pm

Joined Oct 2012
Total Posts: 1,068

This loan move seems to indicate that Benfica doesn't really rate him high too highly. If so, they wouldn't be letting him go on loan.

The manager for the first team got fired. The manager for Benfica B is now caretaker manager for the first team. Although the manager for Benfica B apparently seems to like Parks... he still got loaned out instead of being brought in to train/play with the first team. Granted, MLS is better than the Portuguese 2nd division, but still.

He signed a contract extension a year ago which runs until 2022. There is also a relatively high release clause in it apparently. He doesn't seem to be in Benfica's plan moving forward, and I doubt any team would realistically be willing to pay the current transfer price (let alone NYCFC and their ability to afford it).

So if a player isn't in your plans and there are no suitors who want/can afford to sign the player, what do you do? Loan them out to get them off your books and get a little financial relief. It seems very possible that the loan to NYCFC will likely be used as a springboard for a loan move next season as well.

Not trying to be pessimistic here, but trying to look at it objectively... and the outlook doesn't appear to be great. That's not to say that he won't make it or doesn't have talent, just that his time at Benfica seems to be over.

As a career step, this is decent because he needs minutes and the quality in MLS is higher than LigaPro. Hopefully this kid develops and can contribute to the national team moving forward.

Lilshmike

Post #44

Tuesday January 8, 2019 4:17pm

Joined Oct 2012
Total Posts: 1,068

Also, not sure where exactly he will play position wise at NYCFC. It will be interesting to see if they find him to be more of a 6 or 8.

Know Nothing

Post #45

Tuesday January 8, 2019 8:10pm

Joined Jan 2013
Total Posts: 1,556

Yes, it would seem he is not in their plans, but I dare say a successful loan to the MLS may change their mind.

Moving to MLS increases his chances to play and to be selected to the USMNT. If he does well and gets more recognition from US fans he may get recalled by Benfica with an eye to increase their exposure to the US market. They were unable to capitalize on the signing of Freddy Adu, but having a US player in the first team and contributing to the USMNT will potentially enhance Benfica's brand in the US.

In addition, the more caps he gets the more leagues he can potentially move to. And with more and more teams looking to further their marketing in the US, the better known he becomes here, the better the market over there.